Super Smash Bros. Melee Stream Returns To Evo Tournament

Update: Super Smash Bros. Melee has been added back to the roster, and the original schedule has been restored. It's still unclear exactly why Nintendo asked that Smash Bros. not be streamed, but whatever the reason, Nintendo has decided to allow the game to appear in the tournament. The following quote recently appeared on Shoryuken.com:

I’ve just received word from Nintendo that the Evo Smash Bros. Melee stream will be allowed to proceed. We will be restoring the original stream and tournament schedules. Obviously this is a huge relief for all of us here and we’re thrilled that the world will get to see the best Smash players fight it out this weekend. Thanks to everyone online who supported both Evo and Smash, and thanks to Nintendo for allowing us to stream their game.

Original Story:

Nintendo has reached out to Evo 2013 fighting game championship organizers to inform them that they do not have permission to stream video content of Super Smash Bros. Melee.

A message from Evo co-founder Tom "inkblot" Cannon on Shoryuken.com alerted fans of the schedule changes in the upcoming tournament:

"Regrettably, we’ve just been informed by Nintendo of America Inc. that we do not have permission to broadcast Super Smash Bros. Melee for Evo 2013."

In place of Melee, Persona 4 Arena and King of Fighters XIII will be streamed in its place. You can find out more about the tournaments and its updated schedules by heading here. Tournaments will still be held for Super Smash Bros. Melee, but per Nintendo's request, it will not be streamed.

Super Smash Bros. Melee's inclusion in this year's tournament were due to the effort a large fundraising effort where fans raised more than $90,000 dollars to donate towards breast cancer research. Neither Nintendo nor Evo offered more details as to why the game was pulled.

Nintendo recently limited the profitability options of YouTube users posting video content from Nintendo games on the video site. Nintendo wanted to make sure that its, "content is shared across social media channels in an appropriate and safe way." Nintendo's actions with Evo may be a further attempt to make sure content from their games is being shared online appropriately.

Our TakeWe've reached out to Nintendo for more information about why it has requested that Melee not be streamed online for the tournament. Any video from Super Smash Bros. Melee is Nintendo's content and it is understandable that Nintendo would not want to flirt with the possibility of video content from its games being used in an inappropriate manner. That being said, fighting game tournaments are a celebration of the genre, and in the case of Smash Bros., a celebration of Nintendo's many characters. There are few downsides for a game to be featured in a highly public tournament such as Evo, so Nintendo's actions are causing some confused head scratching. Hopefully Nintendo will offer a comment soon.